Rotary can-opener



(No Model.)

2 SheetsS11eet 1. W. GREGSON. ROTARY CAN OPENER.

WTIIIImrm woewtoz UNITE STATES PATENT trier...

WILLIAM GREGSON, OF MIER, INDIANA.

' ROTARY CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,065, dated January 25, 1898.

Application filed November 10, 1896. Serial No. 611,657. (No model.)

in rotary can-openers; and the object is to produce a simple and durable device for expeditiously opening cans.

To this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same figures of reference indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved can-opener. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the clamp and rotary cutter-head. Fig. 4:

is a cross-section on the line ofthe knifeblade, and Fig. 5 is a similar view transverse to the knife-blade.

1 represents the base-plate, cast integral with the vertical jaw 2, from which an arm 3 extends parallel with the plate 1. The outer end of said arm 3 is provided with a thumb screw 4:, by means of which the machine is adjustably secured to the table or other convenient support.

The jaw 2 is formed with a vertical rectangnlar slot 5, in which is adjustably secured a bar 6, and 7 represents a leverfulcrumed on a rivet 8 in said jaw, the cam-shaped face of which is adapted to bind against the bar 6 and adj ustably secure it in position.

9 represents the circular clamp-head, having an integral bifurcated arm 10, pivoted to the upper end of the bar 6 by a bolt or rivet 11. This clamp-head 9 is also provided with an integral lever-handle 12, by means of which it is operated. 13 represents an annular recess in the lower face of said head, and 1a is a central bearing which is journaled in said recess. The upper end of the shaft 15 is provided with a crank-handle 17, by means of which the cutter-head is rotated. The lower face of said cutter-head is formed with a transverse dovetail recess 18, in which is mounted a cutter-blade 19, having a dovetail shank and a downwardly-projecting knife 21. This knife is V-shaped, and both angles form cutting edges. 22 is a series of slots in one side of the shank of said blade, which engage the rectangular end 27 of a sliding dovetail bolt 23, working in a dovetail slot 2a in the cutter-head at a right angle to and in the same plane as the shank of the cutter-blade. represents a thumb-nail notch in said bolt, by means of which it is operated to engage and release the shank of the cutter-blade.

28 28 represent two pawls pivoted on thumbscrews 29 29 in the flange 30 of the clamphead 9. These are formed with a chiselshaped pointwhich engages the circular edge of the can and holds it from rotating while the cutter-blade is at work. These pawls are located on opposite sides of the clamp-head, and both point in the same direction, so as to securely hold the can. If the cutter-head be turned either to the right or the left, by means of their thumb-screws they can be adjusted to hold large or small cans.

The operation of the device is very simple. The can is placed on the base plate 1 and the bar 6 adjusted by means of the lever '7 until the clamp-head 9 rests upon the top of the can and one of the pawls adj usted to hold the can. The lever-handle 12 is then pressed down, which causes the knife 21 to puncture the top of the can, and the handle 17 is then given one complete sweep of a circle, which cuts out a disk from the top of the can, thereby allowing the contents to be removed.

By means of the lever '7 the distance between the plate 1 and the cutter-head may be varied to correspond to the height of different cans, and by adjusting the cutter-blade in or out from the center and looking it in proper position by the bolt 28 the size of the opening that is out in the top of the can may 'be enlarged or reduced at will.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, 1 do not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall Within the scope of my invention Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A can-opener comprising the base-plate, integral jaw and its arm, the thumb-screw mounted in said arm, and the cam lever '7 fulcrumed in said jaw, the vertical bar adj ustably secured in said jaw, the clamp-head hinged in the upper endof said bar and formed "with an annular recess, in combination with a rotary cutter-head mounted'in said recess and provided with a crank-handle and a transverse dovetail recess and a cutter-blade adjustably mounted in said recess, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Acan-openercomprising a rotary cutterhead formed with a dovetail cutter-blade recess, and a dovetai'tbolt recess located at a right angle to the cutter-blade recess, in combination with a dovetail cutter-blade having a series of slots 22 in one side and a dovetail bolt adapted to engage the slots 22 in said cutter-blade, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

A can-opener comprising the base-plate 1, integral slotted jaw 2, and arm 3, the thumbscrew 4L mounted in said arm, and the cam ably secure said cutter-blade inpositiou, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' WILLIAM GREGSON.

l-Vitnesses: J OHN A. SPANGLER, JOHN SAYLORS. 

